Here is an array of simple (Goo.gl), lesser known (Google Body Browser), possibly under-appreciated-for-all-they-do (Gmail) Google apps worth mentioning for possible use in education - along with a couple of sites that list still more Google (some of which are clearly more for business use than education).
Gmail - See below for a series of instructions on the Google Email app. If you already use Gmail, just scan the attachments to see if there is anything you did not already know. The sequence of the attachments is EMAIL_Handout, EMAIL_Handout2, EMAIL_Attachments, and EMAIL_Searching. There is a Gmail tutorial at http://www.atomiclearning.com/highed/en/gmail. The chat feature is an interesting instant messaging option found within Gmail.
Google Body Browser - http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/ Google's Body Browser has been described as a "Google Earth for the Body," which makes some sense. There is a screencast, "Google Body Browser", in iTunes U (under the iPod on the iPads) that discusses using Google Body Browser in classes.
Google Books & Google Scholar - Google Books, http://books.google.com, is an ebookstore, like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Nobel's Nook. Google Scholar is driven by the 100,000s of books and journal articles digitized by Google at major universities (see http://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/about.html). One can search for a term and get an article or a short segment of a book back with information about how to purchase it (if it is in copyright) or otherwise obtain it (if Google has the scan). Sometimes these two resources are confused.
Google Labs - Look to http://www.googlelabs.com/ to see what Google is developing. Google encourages employees to be creative, and here is where new possible services are showcased. Note that the Google Body Browser is one of these more recent ideas.
Google Trends - With Google Trends ( ), you can compare the world’s interest in your favorite topics. Enter up to five topics and see how often they’ve been searched on Google over time. Google Trends also shows how frequently your topics have appeared in Google News stories, and in which geographic regions people have searched for them most. Trends analyzes a portion of Google web searches to compute how many searches have been done for the terms you enter, relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. Also, see http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends.
Gpanion - Gpanion (http://gpanion.com/) spreads an array of Google products over two pages (see More Apps button). Many that you have not seen are business apps, though, or possibly social media that have not quite made "prime time" (Buzz, Orkut, Wave). Still you might find it interesting to browse through.
Performance Record
Please comment, under the Miscellaneous Google topic at the CPED 5300 discussion board - Google Groups, on three of these applications that you find useful, either for your teaching preparation or for use in the classroom.
Gmail - See below for a series of instructions on the Google Email app. If you already use Gmail, just scan the attachments to see if there is anything you did not already know. The sequence of the attachments is EMAIL_Handout, EMAIL_Handout2, EMAIL_Attachments, and EMAIL_Searching. There is a Gmail tutorial at http://www.atomiclearning.com/highed/en/gmail. The chat feature is an interesting instant messaging option found within Gmail.
Goo.gl - Goo.gl (that is the address, by the way, http://goo.gl) is Google's URL shortener, like tinyurl.com or bit.ly. Here is a quick explanation/tutorial for goo.gl, http://www.thesisthemetutorial.net/interesting-links/goo-glgoogle-url-shortener/.
Google Body Browser - http://bodybrowser.googlelabs.com/ Google's Body Browser has been described as a "Google Earth for the Body," which makes some sense. There is a screencast, "Google Body Browser", in iTunes U (under the iPod on the iPads) that discusses using Google Body Browser in classes.
Google Books & Google Scholar - Google Books, http://books.google.com, is an ebookstore, like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Nobel's Nook. Google Scholar is driven by the 100,000s of books and journal articles digitized by Google at major universities (see http://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/about.html). One can search for a term and get an article or a short segment of a book back with information about how to purchase it (if it is in copyright) or otherwise obtain it (if Google has the scan). Sometimes these two resources are confused.
Google Labs - Look to http://www.googlelabs.com/ to see what Google is developing. Google encourages employees to be creative, and here is where new possible services are showcased. Note that the Google Body Browser is one of these more recent ideas.
Google Moderator - Google Moderator (https://www.google.com/moderator/) structures debate and voting mechanics.
Google Reader - http://www.google.com/reader is an RSS client.
Google Translate - http://translate.google.com/?hl=en - Google Translate does just what it says. It is about as simple as goo.gl.
Google Trends - With Google Trends ( ), you can compare the world’s interest in your favorite topics. Enter up to five topics and see how often they’ve been searched on Google over time. Google Trends also shows how frequently your topics have appeared in Google News stories, and in which geographic regions people have searched for them most. Trends analyzes a portion of Google web searches to compute how many searches have been done for the terms you enter, relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. Also, see http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends.
Google Voice - One number for all your phones, online voicemail and cheap calling. Google Voice, http://voice.google.com, is announced in a general way in http://techcrunch.com/2009/03/11/grand-central-to-finally-launch-as-google-voice-its-very-very-good/ and has a tutorial in iTunes U, "Google Voice" that speaks specifically about educational uses.
Gpanion - Gpanion (http://gpanion.com/) spreads an array of Google products over two pages (see More Apps button). Many that you have not seen are business apps, though, or possibly social media that have not quite made "prime time" (Buzz, Orkut, Wave). Still you might find it interesting to browse through.
Knol - http://knol.google.com/k?hl=en - Share your expertise.
Performance Record
Please comment, under the Miscellaneous Google topic at the CPED 5300 discussion board - Google Groups, on three of these applications that you find useful, either for your teaching preparation or for use in the classroom.